Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Quito
You'll land at Quito's airport where someone meets you for the drive to your hotel in the Quito district. Check-in happens at 3:00 PM, so you'll have the rest of the afternoon to get settled and rest before things get going.
- Start point
- Quito Airport Center, Vía Tababela - Yaruquí, Quito, Pichincha 1709, Ecuador (Quito Airport, 00:00 - 23:55)
- Day 2
Quito
Start exploring Quito's colonial center by visiting the Basilica Church, Independence Plaza, Cathedral, Government's Palace, Company Church, Sagrario's Church, and the 17th century San Francisco Church. After trying some local Ecuadorian chocolate, head up to Teleferico for views from 4,000 meters/13,120 feet. Following lunch, you'll check out the Middle of the World monument to stand on the equator line, walk through the Intinan Museum, and see the inhabited Pululahua crater before heading back.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Basilica Church
- Walk through colonial streets
- Visit Independence Plaza
- Admire Cathedral and Government's Palace
- Visit Company Church
- Visit Sagrario's Church
- Visit San Francisco Church
- Taste Ecuadorian chocolate
- Teleferico cable car experience
- Visit Middle of the World monument
- Participate in experiments at Intiñan Museum
- Explore Pululahua inhabited crater
Landmarks Basilica Church Independence Plaza Cathedral of Quito Company Church Sagrario Church San Francisco Church Teleferico Quito Middle of the World Monument Intiñan Museum Pululahua Crater - Day 3
Quito to Otavalo
An early pickup takes you on a full day drive to Otavalo through the Andes. You'll stop at San Pablo Lake for photos and to try local biscochos cookies, then spend time browsing Otavalo's market looking at colorful handicrafts and goods. After visiting a weaving workshop in Peguche, lunch happens and then you'll head to Cuicocha Lake before the drive back to Quito for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Drive to Otavalo marketplace
- Stop at San Pablo Lake viewpoint
- Try local biscochos (traditional buttery cookies)
- Walk through Otavalo market
- Visit weaving workshop in Peguche
- Visit Cuicocha Lake
Optional Activities
- Purchase handicrafts and souvenirs at Otavalo market
Landmarks Otavalo Market San Pablo Lake Peguche Cuicocha Lake - Day 4
Quito to Galápagos (Santa Cruz)
Following breakfast, transfer to Quito airport for your flight to Galapagos. Once you arrive at Baltra airport, your guide picks you up and drives to the highlands ranch where you can observe giant tortoises in their natural setting. You'll explore lava tunnels and twin craters while seeing the contrast between the green highlands and barren lowlands. Stop by crater sinkholes for viewing and bird watching before reaching your Santa Cruz hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Observe giant tortoises in natural habitat
- Visit lava tunnels in Galápagos highlands
- Visit twin craters
- Bird watching at lookouts
Landmarks Baltra Airport Santa Cruz Highlands 
- Day 5
Santa Cruz Island Excursion
After breakfast, an early pickup at 6:00 or 7:00 AM takes you to Puerto Ayora where you board a small boat for wildlife viewing. Depending on which sites are accessible, you might head to Santa Fe, Pinzon, or Floreana for hiking, snorkeling, and swimming to see native plants and animals. You'll return to Santa Cruz for an afternoon break, then your guide will take you to dinner later.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Dinner at restaurant specified by guide)
Included Activities
- Small vessel excursion to Santa Fe, Pinzon, or Floreana
- Hiking on island
- Snorkeling with endemic species
- Swimming
- Sightseeing of wildlife and endemic vegetation
Landmarks Santa Fe Island Pinzon Island Floreana Island Puerto Ayora - Day 6
Santa Cruz to Isabela Island
Board the speedboat at 6:30 AM for a 2 hour crossing to Isabela. After checking in, you have the morning free to walk to a nearby flamingo lagoon or visit the tortoise breeding center if you want. In the afternoon, visit Las Tintoreras, a series of small islets with coves and hidden beaches just south of Puerto Villamil where you can spot sea lions, marine turtles, iguanas, manta rays, and sharks, with chances to snorkel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Speedboat transfer Santa Cruz to Isabela
- Visit Las Tintoreras islets
- Snorkel in Las Tintoreras bay
Optional Activities
- Walk to flamingo lagoon
- Visit tortoise breeding center (free entrance)
Landmarks Puerto Villamil Las Tintoreras Isabela Flamingo Lagoon - Day 7
Isabela Island to Cabo Rosa
Have breakfast then depart by boat to Cabo Rosa, about 45 minutes away, where lava has flowed into the ocean and formed lava tunnels. You'll watch for penguins, blue-footed boobies, and sea turtles from the boat. The main event is diving where you can see sharks, turtles, sea lions, rays, seahorses, and tropical fish. The speedboat takes you back to Santa Cruz after.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat trip to Cabo Rosa
- View lava tunnels
- Spot penguins, blue-footed boobies, and sea turtles
- Diving at Cabo Rosa
- Observe sharks, turtles, sea lions, rays, seahorses, and tropical fish
- Speedboat return to Santa Cruz
Landmarks Cabo Rosa - Day 8
Departure from Galápagos
Eat breakfast and head to Baltra airport to catch your flight back to the mainland, departing no sooner than 11:30 AM. You'll fly to either Quito or Guayaquil and connect with your international departure from there.
- End point
- Isla Baltra, Galápagos_Islands, Galápagos, Ecuador (Aeropuerto en Baltra)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Baltra Airport
